In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Summer is symbolized by fire, one of the five elements. Fire is symbolic of expansion, growth, activity, and creativity. In human anatomy, the heart, mind and spirit are ruled by the fire element. This means that we should give the most focus to our heart, mind, and spirit for maximum health in the summer.
When the fire element is in balance, the heart is strong and healthy, the mind is calm and sleep is sound. When the fire element is out of balance, we may suffer from agitation, nervousness, heartburn and insomnia.
To remain in harmony with the environment of summer, ancient Chinese physicians advised:
Awaken early in the morning
Go to bed late in the evening
Rest in the middle of the day
Drink plenty of fluids
Add pungent flavors to your diet, such as ginger, cardamom, cloves, chilies, garlic, mustard greens, radishes and turnips
Refrain from anger; keep calm and even-tempered
If you feel as though your inner energy is not aligned with summertime, it may be a good idea to consider
acupuncture. By using points on the meridians associated with the Fire element, acupuncture treatments can help put you back in balance.